The Master Checklist of EVERYTHING You Need to Start a Business

I’ve spent almost 20 years starting businesses and helping hundreds of clients, colleges & friends start theirs. I created this resource to have the single most comprehensive guide anywhere on all the different items involved in starting a business. I wish I had this years ago…

Mandatory tasks are required under the law in order to operate a valid and compliant business.

Recommended tasks, although not strictly required under the law, are tasks that should be undertaken in order to grow and protect a new business.

Ideation & Protecting Ideas

Mandatory

Pick a company name and check any potential trademark infringements on Trademarkia or KnowEm.

Determine whether your business name needs to be trademarked, and if does Trademark it at the USPTO.

Get your DBA (Doing Business As) which allows a business to operate under a fictitious name (this is required for sole proprietorships that want to operate under any name other than the name of the business owner).

Jason Nazar

Jason is the Co-Founder/CEO of Comparably, the Entrepreneur in Residence for the City of LA, & host of Startups Uncensored. He founded Docstoc & sold it to Intuit. Jason’s a frequent contributor to WSJ & Forbes.